What's happening to your favorite tropical rainforest?

An understanding of the
tropical rainforest
is essential for ecological scientists everywhere. We have reason to believe it is vital. The preservation of the tropical rain forest climate is an important part of the earth and for the survival of us all.

Earth scientists warn us that the trees in these forests emit a good part of the oxygen needed for the rest of us to breathe. Therefore, the health and future of the tropical areas are of fundamental interest to researchers and environmentalists alike.

Where are these forests and what are the climates like there? The rain forests are located around the world near the equator, including the islands of the Caribbean (like the one shown in these photos.)

The largest area is in South America along the Amazon River, and there are sizable tracts of rain forest in central Africa and the Islands of Southeast Asia. In these regions, the rain falls nearly every day, and as much as 400 inches, about 10 metres, a year can drench the land below.

Grasslands also exist in tropical regions and have their own unique
climate.
A tropical savanna climate is characterized by a rainy season in which
as much as 50 inches can fall within 6 months or less. The dry season,
which lasts 5 months or more, will usually log less than four inches
for the whole time.

Because of this extended dry period, the vegetation seen in these areas tends to consist of grass and small shrubby and bushes instead of tall trees with the thick undergrowth seen in wetter areas.

Tropical rainforests in the future...

Unfortunately, the typical tropical rainforest is disappearing. Rain
forest deforestation refers to the shrinking of these powerful
storehouses of oxygen producing plants. It has been estimated that the
percentage of earth covered by rainforests has decreased from 14 percent
to 6 percent over the years.

And that an acre and a half of rain forest is lost every second! Oops, there goes another.

Here's a comment we received from one concerned individual: Hi, it is my
pleasure to write something in this blank. I am from the Northeast part of India
and there is a state called Sikkim. It is known for its greenery.
However when I went to Sikkim in the year 2004, the main thing which
grabbed my attention is the deforestation in that area. All the big trees are down and no-one takes the initiative or any steps to flourish this greenery again. It's really painful. ~Rupam from India

Deforestation is happening because the trees are seen by corporations, local people, governments, and landowners as a readily-available cash crop. These regions, however, provide a lot more than just trees. The plants necessary to make many medicines grow in these areas, as do many other important plant and animal species. They all depend on the rainforest biome and its trees.

The tropical rainforest is a fascinating part of ecology to study, with its
huge variety of plants and animals. By examining the climate and
characteristics of these regions, we gain a
better understanding
of their importance to the rest of the world and maybe we will put an end to these problems.

Perhaps you can provide some further insight here. You may do so right here.

Do you love our home as much as I do?

Our environment is important. Isn't it? Why is it important to you? Why should we care?

Now is your chance to rant about it and let the masses know how you feel.

What is happening to our planet? This earth is changing, and not always in a good way. Let us know what you think.

Go ahead. Saying what you gotta say is easy to do. Just type...no registration or login required.

TECHNICAL STUFF! Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story.

I then add my own comments first, before others get a chance. Then you get to see what THEY have to say.

One more thing: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph.